Our stay in the beautiful Harveys Point Hotel Donegal Town
I’ve always had a soft spot for Harveys Point Hotel since we got engaged there in 2006! We stayed in the Presidential Suite and Mr TeamBride got down on one knee with a lovely diamond ring (which I had picked out myself in Lunns Jewellers on a trip to Belfast with my friend Catherine but that’s a whole different story lol!). The only other time we had the pleasure of staying in Harvey's Point was in 2008 when my sister in law had her wedding there and although it was fabulous, I don’t remember an awful lot of it!
As luck would have it I bagged myself an overnight stay thanks to RTE2fm Breakfast Republic when I got beaten on a quiz by Jen Zamparelli. Jen was supposed to be staying in Harveys that weekend but had to cancel and the other 2 hosts where trying to get her to give me the stay instead! Jen was having none of it but Harveys owner Deirdre McGlone had been listening to the show and contacted 2fm to offer me an overnight stay! Deirdre and I had never met, and little did we know then that our paths would cross in lots of different ways over the next few months!
Anyway, we booked to stay at the weekend and it was just wonderful and perfect timing to recharge the batteries before a hectic Christmas season. Just driving through the gates of the hotel you know that you are in for a treat, its so pretty this time of year with the Christmas lights and decorations and the drive down around the lake is spectacular. We checked in and where shown to our room – well suite! We had the luxury of a Premium Suite and it was amazing – it was bigger than most apartments and so comfy. Deirdre had also gone to the trouble of having a plate of desserts left in the room for us which was a lovely touch. We felt spoiled rotten from the moment we arrived. The suite had a massive jacuzzi bath and a bed big enough for us both to lay like starfish all night!
Next stop was a meet and greet drinks reception hosted by Noel Cunningham and Deirdre in the newly refurbished Library room. This was a chance to have a chat with them and mingle with other guests staying in the hotel, it was a really nice touch and much appreciated by everyone who popped in for a glass of bubbly.
There are 2 options to dine in the hotel with the bar and restaurant both serving diverse menus but as we had heard so much about the Chandpur Indian Restaurant in Donegal Town we opted to give it a go instead of dining in the hotel. We had never been to a ‘proper’ Indian restaurant before and our experience was limited to the odd takeaway, so we weren’t sure if we would like it! We needn’t have worried; the food was delicious. There is a lovely atmosphere in the restaurant and the staff are very attentive but in no way intrusive. I love restaurants where the tables aren’t too close together, so you can talk without others overhearing you and I loved the overall ambience of this restaurant. Portions are generous and if I could only eat their Naan bread for the rest of my days Id be a happy girl!
Following dinner, we headed back to the hotel bar to have a nightcap. There was live music in the bar and we sat out in the porch area and enjoyed 2 Sneaky Tequila Cocktails – my new favourite! The bar was relaxed and the staff very friendly and attentive. Its not the thumping night life of the town but it is the perfect place to enjoy some couple time and relaxation.
Over the years I’ve always heard people talk about the food at Harvey's Point and even though I was a little ‘Tequila tired’ the next morning I was still looking forward to a big breakfast! Breakfast is served in the restaurant which over looks the lake and hills and it makes you feel like you are in another world. The options for breakfast are endless with an extensive buffet and specialty items available to order and fresh pancakes made to order by the chef are a must!
Our stay was simply wonderful, and our only complaint is that we had to leave! We will be back to stay at Harveys Point and next time will be bringing our St Bernard Tara as it’s a pet friendly hotel! Harveys has the unique ability to offer a truly luxurious experience while in no way being pretentious and you are made feel welcome from the moment you step inside. If you have never been, you are missing out!
Thank you, Deirdre and team, for a wonderful stay.
Thank you
Carina x
